In the first phase, the scientists worked with patients with epilepsy. As part of the experiment, they exercised on a stationary bike for 20 minutes. Brain activity was recorded before, after, and during the exercise using intracranial electroencephalography. The results showed that even a single workout induced a surge in high-frequency brain waves in the hippocampus, a region responsible for learning, reports News Medical.
"This experiment allowed us to observe neurons in action in humans during physical exercise for the first time," the authors explained. Until now, only behavioral studies had demonstrated the benefits of exercise for cognitive function, but now scientists have observed the specific neural rhythms and brain networks involved in this process.
In the second stage, the electroencephalography data were compared with the fMRI results of healthy individuals, and the results were confirmed. The similarity of the data indicates a unified human brain response to physical activity, regardless of the presence of disease.
The results provide tools for dementia prevention and rehabilitation after strokes or injuries. Furthermore, the findings will allow for the selection of individualized programs tailored to each individual's response to physical activity.
Previously, scientists demonstrated how physical exercise protects the brain. A previously unknown molecular mechanism also confirmed the usefulness of physical activity for the treatment and prevention of cognitive impairment.
